That was in 2013. It was a waste of money then but the latest version was far worse. The one we just held cost us at least $250 million and had only a few entries, If you think $36 million was bad what do you think of $250 million?
Now what good things could we have done with that sort of money?
"….it won't have even bought votes. Maybe some doations."
I can see the sense in that.
Using taxpayers money to give donations to yourself through a grateful and wealthy third party makes a lot of sense.
I mean, if you gave that money to poor people, they would just spend and not have any left over to donate to your party, no matter how grateful they were.
Give it to rich people makes much more sense, they can always scratch around for a couple of loose thou or so down the back of the couch to donate to your party.
That at least is a rational response. Cleaning the port area up might be a good idea (I don't really know and am not qualified to comment as I don't live there). Having the Yacht races doesn't seem essential for that though.
Claiming that the America's Cup is good for the country isn't even a rational proposal in my opinion. And I used to sail when I was a lot younger so I am likely to be in the group that might be interested.
Here is a piece from a few days ago when it was the tenth year since a western alliance of the USA, the UK and France bombed Libya, under the pretense of a humanitarian intervention…the result today being worse than one can imagine..and as is the case in those countries, our own media always seems to make room for news that promotes military intervention, but never an equal or more often no opposing voices to these actions…why is that?
So of course when it all goes wrong or the west is caught fabricating reasons for military intervention on so called humanitarian grounds our media is also silent…why is that?
And while we are on the issue of propaganda by omission, think about Julian Assange, a near media black out him now, though when the alleged 'rape' charges were being pushed, our media couldn't dive into the shit deep enough…why is that?
Propaganda By Omission: Libya, Syria, Venezuela And The UK
" Maya Garner, a spokesperson for the IUNW commented: "The UK and its allies, which played a key role in the removal of Colonel Gaddafi's murderous regime in 2011, have failed to do enough to stabilise Libya, while profiteering from the sale of weapons to Tripoli."
@Jenny how to get there
So lets be clear here, are you saying that allowing the OCPW/USA/UK/France falsify OCPW documents and reports that allow for military strikes in Syria is OK with you because Assad must be removed by the western intervention if necessary?
I do not allow and would not allow OCPW etc to falsify documents and reports, as you impute I am.
You are twisting things to fit your preconceived views of my motives.
I don't have a hidden agenda. I have been to Syria and witnessed the Assad regime close up. Admittedly that was just before the war, in 2010, but I have followed events there very closely ever since, including watching live feeds of the regime's first atrocities against civilians in places I had been in only months before and knew well.
To me the most telling quote in the following video, is this one. @7:37 minutes in.
Which I have transcribed for you below:
"….It is important to note that these chemical attacks are not the only documented war crimes that have been committed by Syrian Government forces throughout this entire conflict There are plenty of other human rights violations that have been committed by the Syrian Arab Army that the West could easily have used to justify invading Syria years ago…."
Syria Chemical Attacks: 10 Truther Arguments Debunked
One of those 'other' war crimes is the undeniable total destruction of the Syrian city of Homs. Apologists for the Assad regime on this blogsite have consistently and repeatedly refused to address or admit to the evidence of their own eyes to the scale of this mass murder of a Syrian civilian population by the Assad regime.
This is an unaparralled war crime, no other government in human history has carpet bombed its own cities.
This and other monstrous war crimes and human rights abuses by the Assad regime are swept under the carpet and ignored by Assad apologists to give credence to the 'regime change conspiracy' narrative.
Something I didn't know until today, the BBC world Service is unregulated….so in other words, can publish or provide to other countries news services like New Zealand's, news that has no regulatory oversight what so ever…
" BBC World Service is not regulated by Ofcom. Instead the BBC is responsible for setting its overall strategic direction, the budget and guarding its editorial independence for World Service. It must set and publish a Licence for the World Service, which defines its remit, scope, annual budget and main commitments, as well as "objectives, targets and priorities" which are agreed with the Foreign Secretary."
I could go on with examples of Raab's anti progressive/Left positions but you get the idea…
So the mystery around to where at least some of our own misinformed, underinformed international news/views comes from is easily explained.
One of the strange thing I thought of while typing this comment, is how many so called ‘lefties’ agree vehemently with all the positions of the UK conservative Foreign Secretary…..hilarious.
Our Labour government is proposing to do away with our totally government run and controlled radio, for a few shekels. Jack in the Beanstalk sold solid milkfat for unknown types of beans that happily grew into a giant plant which he climbed then found gold and a magic harp. Fairytales like this are what Labour believe in, in their hearts if they have any.
They are planning to put the mostly commercial tv model to use for radio, the one place where they should get their message over without tilting someone's elbow. The bloody fools, they have put the cowherd in charge of running the farm, and he is selling it off like Jack while the few who should understand this and be responsible look the other way. Faafoi has announced:
"A new public media entity would operate with a mixed funding model, drawing part of its revenue from commercial sources and part from government funding," Faafoi confirmed.
"It would provide content across a variety of platforms, and have full editorial and operational independence from Government enshrined in legislation." (This was copied from the newspaper piece on Apr.1/2021 – Panel to oversee radio, TV proposal)
..Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi has said he expects to take a case for the proposal to the Cabinet in October…
The members of the governance group appointed by Faafoi are Tracey Martin, Glen Scanlon, Michael Anderson, SandraKailahi, Bailey Mackey, William Earl, John Quirk, and Trisha Dunleavy….
Details about them are in the on line piece.
1984 deja vu all over again, Labour being the pointy-headed kids on the block, demonstrating (to whom?) how cleaver [sic] they are, modern, efficient, smaller government etc. How Labour can sell off, virtually, this major item of national importance capable of delivering excellent product, and tarnish it, with the old adage of commercial doing it better – that's an oxymoron. But Labour appears to be run by morons, lost in the world of Now which I can see clearly by standing away from it, noticing, educating myself, thinking about it, they are too close, too tied to the 'beltway'.
These people, (are they?) running the Labour Party are driving us right into the BBC-media state, which is the one that helped bring down silly Jeremy Corbyn who waited to do anything to first see what the people had to say. The people couldn't see clearly what was happening because there isn't a clear path that they know to follow, to the actual news and explanations about its background. That was then, now BBC has jumped through the flaming hoop like a well-trained little hound.
And UK Labour is held in limbo apparently by the anti-Palestine group who control and will agitate against any power that the terminal left try to exert. We will have our own agitators controlling everything we say and do that is outside of a closed agenda decided by others who have the media's ear.
Anne Perry could write a great novel using her modern detective but ferreting out dark secrets, undercurrents and venality here just as she did for London in the Victorian years.
@greywarshark…yes it is very sad that out Labour government now is Left only in peoples imaginations…the are a Free Market liberal party…just check out what is happening to our public Libraries and Universities across most of NZ…not only are Labour free market fundamentalism their free market policies leads directly to anti intellectualism.
One of the strange thing I thought of while typing this comment, is how many so called ‘lefties’ agree vehemently with all the positions of the UK conservative Foreign Secretary…..hilarious.
Certainly no more 'hilarious' than the otherwise left supporters that uncritically endorse a murderous kleptocracy.
You are starting to sound like some sort of unhinged anti Putin fundamentalist here Stuart Munro..anyway I will say this again, and hopefully for the last time…show the readers of The Standard just one time I have said anything pro Putin or have linked to one piece that is pro Putin…
If you cannot find that one time, then Stuart Munro you are then honour bound to give me a full apology, or if it turns out you are not a honourable person ..then how about not commenting on my comments in the future if you all you can do is spread lies and innuendo.
Show us one – just one time you have departed from the Kremlin script on:
Syria, Novichoks, Navalny, Ukraine
Which makes your views less part of genuine individual opinion, which should be tolerated, and more like braying the cant of a mischievous propagandist, which should not.
It ought not to surprise you if many leftists here occasionally find common ground with a conservative UK foreign office, if only because policy endures beyond individual governments.
The UK position on Russia necessarily reflects the concerns of fellow NATO members who face invasion if Russia is allowed to do whatever it will. If your views were ever informed by the experiences of anyone from eastern Europe instead of your go to nutbar sites, you might have a glimmering of why that might not be an appealing prospect.
"occasionally find common ground with a conservative UK foreign office,"
Slightly more than occasional…
Julian Assange
Venezuela
Navalny
Syria regime change
Russiagate
China
Libya (when it was happening)
Ukraine
etc etc etc…man you and Boris (and Thatcher probably) would get on real well, seems like a very similar world view you guys got going there…sort looks a lot like a modernist colonialist ideology when you think about it for one second….which of course you don't, though for most intelligent people it is quite obvious you and your pals are in fact just modern colonists only just under the surface, which is why I have always described you lot as nothing more than [deleted] only waiting for the order to arrive.
Yep the irony is that you and so many like you who go on and on about authoritarianism are all just under the surface craving that very thing..it's so transparent it actually quite funny….just like all those conservative preachers who everyone know are going to get busted for something dodgy in the not too distant future…that is you right there pal, shit for all we know you probably admire Putin deep down yourself, I wouldn't be surprised if something like that came out if you where on the couch for half an hour..LOL!!
Actually lets see what Putin has to say about Russiagate himself, it seems that unlike Biden and Boris Putin has no problem sitting down with hostile foreign journo's…
I don't need to hear Putin's version. I heard everything I need to know about him decades ago – and he hasn't changed a bit.
Maybe, just maybe, you should search out the other side of the story – the one you have chosen is not remotely tenable.
I get that you're young, and have no access to primary sources. Doesn't mean you can take the devil at his word however.
You might want to reflect upon why it is that the main Russiagate deniers are the kind of loons who stormed the capitol. Are these your fellow travellers? Maybe you're not as Left as you think.
We need unions for sure, that understand employers and watch out for union members.
Whenever we use Amazon for online shopping delivery, we should feel guilty. The company’s labour practices are notoriously unsafe. Shop floor employees in Amazon warehouses are required to work punishing ten to 12 hour shifts that routinely require them to walk 24 kilometres a day to fill orders and stack shelves. Meanwhile, their work output and journeys round the warehouses are being electronically tracked and timed to maximise efficiency…
You just don't like facing criticism about your controversial opinions. You delete comments that are critical of you as if you occupy some hallowed ground because of the length and wordiness of your posts.
I deleted a nasty insult and if you use it again, I will delete it again and step up the ‘censorship’ until you stop insulting other commenters here with your despicable language or until you will lose your commenting privileges here, which you will undoubtedly label ‘cancelled’.
The Pre-Moderation filter is my friend; you keep an eye on your own behaviour here, which is the issue, as far as I am concerned, and you don’t need to concern yourself with how I apply my ‘censorship’ to others, as this is already covered well by another commenter who feels compelled to act as ‘critic and conscience’ on and of this site.
By Bryce Edwards* (says a mouthful and i assume it isn't an April fool)
Opinion: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern can essentially say "kia kaha" as much as she wants to those at the bottom of the housing market, but it won't help their plight. Eventually her government is going to have to take state housing seriously as a tool for helping solve the housing crisis – especially for low-to-average income earners, who were ignored in last week's housing package announcement.
State housing – government housing setting a base for housing the poor, many of whom the government has helped to make that way, what a good idea.
Seeing successive governments have followed in 1984 Labour's footsteps and discarded a great range of jobs as a sacrifice to bring in cheap goods and open trading lines, at the same time keeping wages down so that those still working find it impossible to have a life without two wages and devil take the children, say the gummint; what a good idea that government ploughs some of that money into reasonable housing in an appropriate place.
With all that in mind, it is essential for the government to get off its fat bum, (not PC? they deserve worse), and do some appropriate state housing. And could you also raise the bar on the high jump for speculators whether NZ born, white, green or orange, and foreign-born of whatever colour or ethnicity. Remember Rackman in the UK! How come we repeat the history when we have had so much education to enable us to learn about?
Perec or Peter Rachman came to England during the war as a refugee from Poland. He died a millionaire in 1962. Rachman started work in an estate agency in Shepherds Bush but soon branched out on his own to exploit the post-war housing shortage. Infamous residents – Peter Rachman
Agree entirely Incog. Bryce Edwards is a devious and misleading commentator who seems to be a slave to the right. The figures he quotes in his article give an entirely false impression.
As the figures in your link show, the Labour-led government will increase public housing by 14,000 in the period 2018-2024, an increase of 20%. Creditable, though more still would be preferable.
Over the 9 years of the Key junta the number of state houses actually decreased. Key and English sold them off to bolster the public accounts so that they could give tax cuts to their mates.
"Labour-led government will increase public housing". That is probably OK as far as it goes. After all one more house would make that claim true. But why do you think it will be on anything like the scale in the proposal you have linked to?
What a trusting person you are. They say that, this time, they are going to achieve something significant. You actually seem to believe, in spite of all the evidence from past promises, that they will do what they have promised.
Well, back in 2017 they promised that they would build 100,000 houses in 10 years. Then they gave some estimates for the first 3 years. And how did they get on? All true believers now look in the other direction. It was a total disaster wasn't it?
They promised that by the end of 2021 there would be light rail to Mt Roskill. No ifs, no buts. It would be there. Well they haven't even got a route so far, so what are the chances that it will be achieved?
But we are now asked to believe that things will be different this time. This time the numbers they promise are really truly going to happen. And everyone can believe in the tooth fairy as well I suppose.
It all comes down to money, or the 16 billions they gave the rich so that a few breadcrumbs can fall off the table. There is no money for infrastructure, housing or any other improvement we wish to see. If there isn't a Corporate in line of bolstering their pockets, we are simply out of luck. Look at the timber shortage and the commercial manoeuvring in NZ. Anyone can see we are being blackmailed to give up on public housing. Meanwhile, the government needs to fill the hole of 16 bill. with log exports. Aren't they?
As the figures in your link show, the Labour-led government will increase public housing by 14,000 in the period 2018-2024, an increase of 20%. Creditable, though more still would be preferable.
You mean the same Labour that promised 100,000 houses in ten years about 3 1/2 years ago and failed embarrassingly to the point of giving in and saying it was bollocks?
Why are we supposed t trust their housing promises again?
National decreased the overall state housing stock in its period in power.
Labour is increasing it. Has done so. Will it get to 14,000? Maybe. Would have to pull finger, but it's already moving in the correct direction.
You know what's worse than trying to get X number of extra homes built and failing? Not even trying.
So National didn't promise or try to improve things (well, except towards the end, when they started promising to halve child poverty in a sudden pretence of caring). Labour has tried to achieve its goals, failed on some and succeeded on others.
One of the things about "whataboutism" is that it does introduce the concept of hypocrisy, in that a party which criticises another party for doing 'nothing' or 'not enough' when it actually made things worse by selling off housing which it did not replace as it promised, is accountable. The 'what about you' points out this hypocrisy.
How many were sold in areas where they were no longer needed due to population shift? The question really should be, "How many sold……… and for what reason?"
In the town where I live, our National MP assured us in Grey Power that houses would be built to replace those sold. They weren't. Houses that I looked at as being up for sale but in need of refurbishment under National were not sold under Labour,
and are being done up. As well, a hundred more are being built in the region. The spokesperson for Grey Power locally (not me!) reported to our recent AGM that he was very pleased with local and national (small 'n', =note) government efforts in addressing housing needs locally.
Certainly not a city's (1140) worth as the National govt did in Tauranga – who decided that was a remotely good idea to lose the income from freehold properties & the valuable land they stand on in a city with a shortage of it. The "idea" failed were English put both the entire stock of Tauranga & Invercargill up as Invercargill in 2014-2016, into 2017 when the sale was completed, was experiencing none of the demand for property Tauranga did and still does. Now the tax payer supplements the "market" rents – so lost income, lost land and supplemented rents on 1140 properties hardly stacks up as a brilliant idea by any assessment. The owners Accessible Properties had approx 1600 properties in 2017 now they have 2700 approx so any claim it would lead to social housing providers providing extra social housing on the back of it is bunkum – they are profit for purpose supported by tax payers money.
Your Government, your Prime Minister. Why are they letting Australia hang in the wind? Why are they not backing us up in this very serious confrontation with the Chinese dictatorship.
Here's why tenants shouldn't worry about housing changes
Sell and run?
Property investors won't sell up and run, due to a very common trait. Most are wusses when it comes to risk. That’s not a bad thing. They know their tolerance level and they’re stable investors. They won't switch asset classes easily and often have no diversification.
This is good news for tenants as their attitude to risk makes them more prepared to absorb regulatory shock. Long term, tax-free capital gains on borrowed money will always attract them.
Sound reason in this article by Janine Starks. Make a mockery (and she does mock them) of landlord's claims they are going to hammer tenants for this.
The simple theory of supply and demand has not led to desirable outcomes for all, which is I assume what everyone wants. Constraints on the supply side render the theory inadequate, therefore some intervention is required.
I am fairly certain that homes aren't being destroyed and house numbers are rising quite rapidly, if not rapidly enough.
I imagine rents will rise at about the same pace as they have historically, that is well above wage growth. As it ever was 🙁
Simon Angelo is quite impressed with what the government has done and not that keen on small scale residential rental / investment as a business.
Even more disingenuous is suggesting that most residential rental homes are a ‘business.’ Most operators do not provide the service at any scale. Nor are they incentivised to grow profits by delivering a more productive service.
A low-yield building that mainly allows one customer to have a roof over their head looks more like a social good, not a market product. Perhaps we need to change the way we provide it?
Businesses produce profits across many customers. They, in turn, are subject to industry, health, trading, taxation, and countless specific regulations.
Angelo does have a barrow to push, he sells investment products other than housing. He's quite keen on the idea of a listed company that builds and rents medium to high density housing, either as a partial float of Housing New Zealand, or a new entity.
There's already a couple of outfits doing the build to rent thing Du Val, and Williams Corp who've previously been pre-sold builders but have been popping up on my Facebook feed with build to rent product returning 10%
Perhaps you have trouble recognising what a number is, because you very, very rarely back up anything you write with numbers, via links or otherwise.
I thought the article was very well thought out by a person well established in the personal finance and investment industry. It was also a relief to hear someone in that industry not hand-wring about the recent legislative changes and show that this will in fact stabilise the rental market by weeding out amateur and leveraged party-time investors.
I haven't watched all of it yet Robert, but I plan to.
Yes, for something like this I think you are quite entitled to be proud of it and to make available to others. Mind you, I think the rampant growth of your beard almost puts the growth of the vegetation to shame.
Thanks Robert, just finished watching it all the way through. Very inspiring for what i am doing here though mine will be a fraction of the size. I have very sheltered but sunny half an acre in Whangarei.
Last winter i planted a good 150 native plants and lots of comfrey. This winter i will put in plum and apricot trees now i have mostly finished my terracing. I've got four pineapple plants in pots to go in and will do more once once the pineapples are available again at the growers market. I'm also looking to put in mandarins, grapes, bananas and thornless blackberries.
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On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
Aldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence. The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour. The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done. ...
The fight to control major transport policy and projects in Auckland has burst into the open again, with councillors rejecting Mayor Wayne Brown’s latest attempt to steer things more under his influence. Councillors from the left and right broke ranks on the mayor’s bid to control Auckland Transport more directly ...
Exhausted by the general election campaign, horrified by the twilight zone of coalition negotiations, distracted by the silly season and waiting for the honeymoon to begin, Raw Politics has been in hibernation since October. From today, we’re back. Our weekly political video show and podcast returns for ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Authorities in the small town of Boulouparis have commemorated Armistice Day on May 8 with a new memorial honouring New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during World War II. The ceremony took place in the township on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), The University of Melbourne Dubai skylineAleksandarPasaric/Pexels Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient cathedrals and mosques. Today ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Musole, PhD Law Student, University of New England Girts Ragelis/ShutterstockRecent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with ...
Papua New Guinea experienced a significant earthquake on 24 March in East Sepik and there has also been recent flooding there and in surrounding provinces. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland Maridav/Shutterstock You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your ...
The Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell?Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...
A new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...
The New Zealand entrepreneur behind beauty business Ethique is gearing up to launch a new eco-venture. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Our thirst for a tasty bevvy is insatiable, but it comes with a hefty plastic price for the planet: 580 billion ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 James by Percival Everett (Mantle, $38) A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from ...
By Kamna Kumar in Suva Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna stressed the importance of media freedom and its link to the climate and environmental crisis at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day event organised by the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme. Under the theme “A Planet for ...
Tara Ward previews a new local TV series offering alternative visions of motherhood. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. A woman is clambering up the side of her two-story house, clinging desperately to a drainpipe. Nearby, her child is perched on the ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is supportive of the cross-party approach to climate adaptation announced by the Minister of Climate Change today. ...
The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome today’s announcement from Government around a bipartisan inquiry into an enduring climate adaptation framework for New Zealand. ...
The Free Speech Union welcomes the decision by the Department of Internal Affairs, and Minister Brooke Van Velden, to abandon proposals to further regulate online speech. ...
Its new building in Wellington will not be nearly big enough for all its records, and it has also run out of money to build its new storage facility in Levin. ...
BusinessNZ is congratulating the Minister of Climate Change for his work in achieving cross-party consensus for a way forward on climate adaptation. ...
Recent research reveals the repeal of smokefree measures is not only bad for our health, but also the economy. The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to ...
The club’s surprisingly good season is built on the desire to prove a random A-League YouTuber wrong… and a few other factors.“There’s no way that Wellington Phoenix play finals this year. I can’t see it happening at all.” Those are the words of Lachlan Raeside, an Australian football content ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By César Albarrán-Torres, Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Apple TV+ As one of billions of bilingual individuals in the world, it disappoints me when a film or TV show with characters of a non-English-speaking background is ...
The under-utilised course is a waste of space, and with a little political will, it could be turned into something better. For the duration of her stay in Wellington, my long-suffering cousin listened to me rant about golf courses. They’re bad for the environment: water intensive and pesticide heavy. They ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab, Podcast at MissPerceived, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows US fertility rates dropped 2% in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Corderoy, Medical doctor and PhD candidate studying involuntary psychiatric treatment, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney shop_py/Shutterstock Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Treby, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University P.j.Hickox, Shutterstock Peatlands store more carbon per square metre than any other ecosystem on Earth. These waterlogged, mossy bogs beat even dense rainforests for their ability to act as carbon reservoirs. Under the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Goss, Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra Government spending on health has been growing so rapidly that a decade ago the then health minister Peter Dutton called it “unmanageable” and “unsustainable”. Health spending grew in real terms by ...
New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions. ...
New Zealanders have been asked to conserve energy this morning to combat a possible electricity shortfall, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A call to conserve power New Zealand is facing a possible electricity shortfall, with people up ...
Writer Rebecca K Reilly breaks down the national book awards. What are the Ockhams?The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are our annual national awards for books published for adults, and have existed in this form since 2016. There are four categories: Fiction, Poetry, General Non-fiction and Illustrated Non-fiction. There ...
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OMG Auckland airport is chaos inside and out this morning.
another plague flight arrived? What happened?
just easter travel
Start the long weekend off with this gem
https://twitter.com/simonjward/status/1377591993224822787
that was excellent.
It may have been had I been able to understand the words she was singing.
ironic
Talented, funny and entertaining. 🙂
Great article on Stuff today. I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300266207/coroners-report-tells-of-erratic-controlling-and-abusive-behaviour-that-ended-in-murder-suicide
Like watching a slow motion train wreck
Brazil health System on verge of collapse with covid
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933283-500-brazil-faces-health-system-collapse-as-covid-19-cases-skyrocket/?utm_source=nsday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NSDAY_010421
NZ health system on the verge of collapse without covid
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/439170/new-zealand-hospitals-in-crisis-after-biggest-january-february-on-record
Trans Tasman Bubble just days away.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/ministry-health-documents-reveal-trans-tasman-bubble-may-just-days-away
How about this. But instead of relying on a charity to fund it?
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-best-medicine-doesnt-always-come-in-a-bottle/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=today-in-science&utm_content=link&utm_term=2021-04-01_top-stories&spMailingID=69909708&spUserID=MzA0NTQ4NDI1MzE5S0&spJobID=2100187857&spReportId=MjEwMDE4Nzg1NwS2
Afterall we gave millionaire yacht racers $36 million leg up.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/is-36m-well-spent-on-the-americas-cup/9151816/Americas-Cup-Is-it-worth-36m
We can shell out for those at the top of society, why can't we do it for those at the bottom?
$36 million?
That was in 2013. It was a waste of money then but the latest version was far worse. The one we just held cost us at least $250 million and had only a few entries, If you think $36 million was bad what do you think of $250 million?
Now what good things could we have done with that sort of money?
It's far worse, and it won't have even bought votes. Maybe some doations.
Gabby5.1.1
2 April 2021 at 11:12 am
"….it won't have even bought votes. Maybe some doations."
I can see the sense in that.
Using taxpayers money to give donations to yourself through a grateful and wealthy third party makes a lot of sense.
I mean, if you gave that money to poor people, they would just spend and not have any left over to donate to your party, no matter how grateful they were.
Give it to rich people makes much more sense, they can always scratch around for a couple of loose thou or so down the back of the couch to donate to your party.
Money well spent imo… purely because it inevitably ends up in forcing a little bit more of the industrial shite off the waterfront.
That at least is a rational response. Cleaning the port area up might be a good idea (I don't really know and am not qualified to comment as I don't live there). Having the Yacht races doesn't seem essential for that though.
Claiming that the America's Cup is good for the country isn't even a rational proposal in my opinion. And I used to sail when I was a lot younger so I am likely to be in the group that might be interested.
Rich ppl playing trumps poor ppl working evrytime.
Here is a piece from a few days ago when it was the tenth year since a western alliance of the USA, the UK and France bombed Libya, under the pretense of a humanitarian intervention…the result today being worse than one can imagine..and as is the case in those countries, our own media always seems to make room for news that promotes military intervention, but never an equal or more often no opposing voices to these actions…why is that?
So of course when it all goes wrong or the west is caught fabricating reasons for military intervention on so called humanitarian grounds our media is also silent…why is that?
And while we are on the issue of propaganda by omission, think about Julian Assange, a near media black out him now, though when the alleged 'rape' charges were being pushed, our media couldn't dive into the shit deep enough…why is that?
Propaganda By Omission: Libya, Syria, Venezuela And The UK
https://www.medialens.org/2021/propaganda-by-omission-libya-syria-venezuela-and-the-uk/
Are the Brits selling arms to the factions?
Yes they do…
Posted: 12 February 2021
" Maya Garner, a spokesperson for the IUNW commented: "The UK and its allies, which played a key role in the removal of Colonel Gaddafi's murderous regime in 2011, have failed to do enough to stabilise Libya, while profiteering from the sale of weapons to Tripoli."
https://www.journalism.co.uk/press-releases/government-must-halt-arm-sales-to-libya-and-countries-fuelling-the-deadly-civil-war-says-human-rights-group/s66/a794728/
Following Assad’s genocidal erasing of tens of thousands Syrians, the clean up gang come along behind him to finish the job.
Erasing People through Disinformation
https://newpol.org/erasing-people-through-disinformation-syria-and-the-anti-imperialism-of-fools/?fbclid=IwAR1XxbXquhnE-Na92_rO-h56zYv_cDU-uEp3-HYVk5Oo9kIlUhnd42hFH_k
@Jenny how to get there
So lets be clear here, are you saying that allowing the OCPW/USA/UK/France falsify OCPW documents and reports that allow for military strikes in Syria is OK with you because Assad must be removed by the western intervention if necessary?
@Adrian Thornton
I do not allow and would not allow OCPW etc to falsify documents and reports, as you impute I am.
You are twisting things to fit your preconceived views of my motives.
I don't have a hidden agenda. I have been to Syria and witnessed the Assad regime close up. Admittedly that was just before the war, in 2010, but I have followed events there very closely ever since, including watching live feeds of the regime's first atrocities against civilians in places I had been in only months before and knew well.
To me the most telling quote in the following video, is this one. @7:37 minutes in.
Which I have transcribed for you below:
"….It is important to note that these chemical attacks are not the only documented war crimes that have been committed by Syrian Government forces throughout this entire conflict There are plenty of other human rights violations that have been committed by the Syrian Arab Army that the West could easily have used to justify invading Syria years ago…."
Syria Chemical Attacks: 10 Truther Arguments Debunked
One of those 'other' war crimes is the undeniable total destruction of the Syrian city of Homs. Apologists for the Assad regime on this blogsite have consistently and repeatedly refused to address or admit to the evidence of their own eyes to the scale of this mass murder of a Syrian civilian population by the Assad regime.
This is an unaparralled war crime, no other government in human history has carpet bombed its own cities.
This and other monstrous war crimes and human rights abuses by the Assad regime are swept under the carpet and ignored by Assad apologists to give credence to the 'regime change conspiracy' narrative.
https://thestandard.org.nz/heroes-2/#comment-1299116
[Link fixed]
Something I didn't know until today, the BBC world Service is unregulated….so in other words, can publish or provide to other countries news services like New Zealand's, news that has no regulatory oversight what so ever…
" BBC World Service is not regulated by Ofcom. Instead the BBC is responsible for setting its overall strategic direction, the budget and guarding its editorial independence for World Service. It must set and publish a Licence for the World Service, which defines its remit, scope, annual budget and main commitments, as well as "objectives, targets and priorities" which are agreed with the Foreign Secretary."
https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/governance/regulation
This foreign Secretary…
UK Continues To Recognize Guaido As Venezuela's Interim President – Foreign Secretary
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/uk-continues-to-recognize-guaido-as-venezuela-1134905.html
On Russia..
Dominic Raab to call on Nato allies to ‘face down’ threat from Russia
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dominic-raab-nato-blinken-russia-b1821346.html
Dominic Raab re; Navalny
https://twitter.com/dominicraab/status/1351077741056172039?lang=en
Dominic Raab re; Assange
Silence
I could go on with examples of Raab's anti progressive/Left positions but you get the idea…
So the mystery around to where at least some of our own misinformed, underinformed international news/views comes from is easily explained.
One of the strange thing I thought of while typing this comment, is how many so called ‘lefties’ agree vehemently with all the positions of the UK conservative Foreign Secretary…..hilarious.
Aye and there's the rub!
Our Labour government is proposing to do away with our totally government run and controlled radio, for a few shekels. Jack in the Beanstalk sold solid milkfat for unknown types of beans that happily grew into a giant plant which he climbed then found gold and a magic harp. Fairytales like this are what Labour believe in, in their hearts if they have any.
They are planning to put the mostly commercial tv model to use for radio, the one place where they should get their message over without tilting someone's elbow. The bloody fools, they have put the cowherd in charge of running the farm, and he is selling it off like Jack while the few who should understand this and be responsible look the other way. Faafoi has announced:
"A new public media entity would operate with a mixed funding model, drawing part of its revenue from commercial sources and part from government funding," Faafoi confirmed.
"It would provide content across a variety of platforms, and have full editorial and operational independence from Government enshrined in legislation." (This was copied from the newspaper piece on Apr.1/2021 – Panel to oversee radio, TV proposal)
On-line – https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/124710016/rnz-tvnz-merger-will-now-get-down-to-the-nitty-gritty-says-minister
..Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi has said he expects to take a case for the proposal to the Cabinet in October…
The members of the governance group appointed by Faafoi are Tracey Martin, Glen Scanlon, Michael Anderson, Sandra Kailahi, Bailey Mackey, William Earl, John Quirk, and Trisha Dunleavy….
Details about them are in the on line piece.
1984 deja vu all over again, Labour being the pointy-headed kids on the block, demonstrating (to whom?) how cleaver [sic] they are, modern, efficient, smaller government etc. How Labour can sell off, virtually, this major item of national importance capable of delivering excellent product, and tarnish it, with the old adage of commercial doing it better – that's an oxymoron. But Labour appears to be run by morons, lost in the world of Now which I can see clearly by standing away from it, noticing, educating myself, thinking about it, they are too close, too tied to the 'beltway'.
These people, (are they?) running the Labour Party are driving us right into the BBC-media state, which is the one that helped bring down silly Jeremy Corbyn who waited to do anything to first see what the people had to say. The people couldn't see clearly what was happening because there isn't a clear path that they know to follow, to the actual news and explanations about its background. That was then, now BBC has jumped through the flaming hoop like a well-trained little hound.
And UK Labour is held in limbo apparently by the anti-Palestine group who control and will agitate against any power that the terminal left try to exert. We will have our own agitators controlling everything we say and do that is outside of a closed agenda decided by others who have the media's ear.
Anne Perry could write a great novel using her modern detective but ferreting out dark secrets, undercurrents and venality here just as she did for London in the Victorian years.
@greywarshark…yes it is very sad that out Labour government now is Left only in peoples imaginations…the are a Free Market liberal party…just check out what is happening to our public Libraries and Universities across most of NZ…not only are Labour free market fundamentalism their free market policies leads directly to anti intellectualism.
There is no turning Labour Left!..abandon ship.
One of the strange thing I thought of while typing this comment, is how many so called ‘lefties’ agree vehemently with all the positions of the UK conservative Foreign Secretary…..hilarious.
Certainly no more 'hilarious' than the otherwise left supporters that uncritically endorse a murderous kleptocracy.
You are starting to sound like some sort of unhinged anti Putin fundamentalist here Stuart Munro..anyway I will say this again, and hopefully for the last time…show the readers of The Standard just one time I have said anything pro Putin or have linked to one piece that is pro Putin…
If you cannot find that one time, then Stuart Munro you are then honour bound to give me a full apology, or if it turns out you are not a honourable person ..then how about not commenting on my comments in the future if you all you can do is spread lies and innuendo.
In other words put up or shut up.
Right back at you, you tragic dupe.
Show us one – just one time you have departed from the Kremlin script on:
Syria, Novichoks, Navalny, Ukraine
Which makes your views less part of genuine individual opinion, which should be tolerated, and more like braying the cant of a mischievous propagandist, which should not.
It ought not to surprise you if many leftists here occasionally find common ground with a conservative UK foreign office, if only because policy endures beyond individual governments.
The UK position on Russia necessarily reflects the concerns of fellow NATO members who face invasion if Russia is allowed to do whatever it will. If your views were ever informed by the experiences of anyone from eastern Europe instead of your go to nutbar sites, you might have a glimmering of why that might not be an appealing prospect.
"occasionally find common ground with a conservative UK foreign office,"
Slightly more than occasional…
Julian Assange
Venezuela
Navalny
Syria regime change
Russiagate
China
Libya (when it was happening)
Ukraine
etc etc etc…man you and Boris (and Thatcher probably) would get on real well, seems like a very similar world view you guys got going there…sort looks a lot like a modernist colonialist ideology when you think about it for one second….which of course you don't, though for most intelligent people it is quite obvious you and your pals are in fact just modern colonists only just under the surface, which is why I have always described you lot as nothing more than [deleted] only waiting for the order to arrive.
Yep the irony is that you and so many like you who go on and on about authoritarianism are all just under the surface craving that very thing..it's so transparent it actually quite funny….just like all those conservative preachers who everyone know are going to get busted for something dodgy in the not too distant future…that is you right there pal, shit for all we know you probably admire Putin deep down yourself, I wouldn't be surprised if something like that came out if you where on the couch for half an hour..LOL!!
Actually lets see what Putin has to say about Russiagate himself, it seems that unlike Biden and Boris Putin has no problem sitting down with hostile foreign journo's…
I don't need to hear Putin's version. I heard everything I need to know about him decades ago – and he hasn't changed a bit.
Maybe, just maybe, you should search out the other side of the story – the one you have chosen is not remotely tenable.
I get that you're young, and have no access to primary sources. Doesn't mean you can take the devil at his word however.
You might want to reflect upon why it is that the main Russiagate deniers are the kind of loons who stormed the capitol. Are these your fellow travellers? Maybe you're not as Left as you think.
We need unions for sure, that understand employers and watch out for union members.
Whenever we use Amazon for online shopping delivery, we should feel guilty. The company’s labour practices are notoriously unsafe. Shop floor employees in Amazon warehouses are required to work punishing ten to 12 hour shifts that routinely require them to walk 24 kilometres a day to fill orders and stack shelves. Meanwhile, their work output and journeys round the warehouses are being electronically tracked and timed to maximise efficiency…
Gordon Campbell on Amazon and their workers –
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2103/S00109/on-the-battle-to-bring-some-humanity-into-amazons-work-practices.htm
Translation: You don't have one and it disinterests you.
Yet you promote low expectations when advocating for more dominance of the residential retail market by amateur landlords.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[The first step of the Moderation process often is moving a comment/thread to OM – Incognito]
Translation: You don't have one and it disinterests you.
Considering that the site search engine gives over 250 results on my handle and the word 'inequality' – then I think you're making shit up again.
Meh. Inequality is a dependent part of the current capitalist system you champion. You love it.
Last time you just started making shit up it nearly ended badly. Is this what you're angling for again?
Because your deliberate baiting here is both unsubtle and going to go unrewarded.
That is hardly fair given what you make up about others, that we don't really care about black people etc.
You just don't like facing criticism about your controversial opinions. You delete comments that are critical of you as if you occupy some hallowed ground because of the length and wordiness of your posts.
Fuck off. (Happy now?)
That's hardly constructive.
[The Easter bunny needs cheering up and I’ve volunteered your services. Have fun, you two, and see you after Easter – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 2:41 pm.
I assume you censored my comment…shame, it suited them perfectly. I will keep an eye out and see if you apply your censorship fairly in the future.
I deleted a nasty insult and if you use it again, I will delete it again and step up the ‘censorship’ until you stop insulting other commenters here with your despicable language or until you will lose your commenting privileges here, which you will undoubtedly label ‘cancelled’.
The Pre-Moderation filter is my friend; you keep an eye on your own behaviour here, which is the issue, as far as I am concerned, and you don’t need to concern yourself with how I apply my ‘censorship’ to others, as this is already covered well by another commenter who feels compelled to act as ‘critic and conscience’ on and of this site.
Stop your moaning and lift your game.
"Stop your moaning and lift your game" …. going to end your comment with that, really?
Fair enough.
Have a good Easter, Adrian.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/439661/state-builds-missing-from-govt-housing-package Apr. 1/21
By Bryce Edwards* (says a mouthful and i assume it isn't an April fool)
Opinion: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern can essentially say "kia kaha" as much as she wants to those at the bottom of the housing market, but it won't help their plight. Eventually her government is going to have to take state housing seriously as a tool for helping solve the housing crisis – especially for low-to-average income earners, who were ignored in last week's housing package announcement.
State housing – government housing setting a base for housing the poor, many of whom the government has helped to make that way, what a good idea.
Seeing successive governments have followed in 1984 Labour's footsteps and discarded a great range of jobs as a sacrifice to bring in cheap goods and open trading lines, at the same time keeping wages down so that those still working find it impossible to have a life without two wages and devil take the children, say the gummint; what a good idea that government ploughs some of that money into reasonable housing in an appropriate place.
Of course not in low-lying areas where they are packed closely together where the temperature rises high, in Sydney to 50degrees in day, falling to a 'low' of 30degrees appr. at night. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018789468/sydney-s-western-suburbs-australian-nightmare
With all that in mind, it is essential for the government to get off its fat bum, (not PC? they deserve worse), and do some appropriate state housing. And could you also raise the bar on the high jump for speculators whether NZ born, white, green or orange, and foreign-born of whatever colour or ethnicity. Remember Rackman in the UK! How come we repeat the history when we have had so much education to enable us to learn about?
Perec or Peter Rachman came to England during the war as a refugee from Poland. He died a millionaire in 1962. Rachman started work in an estate agency in Shepherds Bush but soon branched out on his own to exploit the post-war housing shortage.
Infamous residents – Peter Rachman
I can’t be bothered with Bryce. His pieces and contributions used to be ok many years ago, but now he’s almost as bad, boring, and biased as Plan B.
Just for you, Bryce: https://www.hud.govt.nz/community-and-public-housing/increasing-public-housing/public-housing-plan/
Agree entirely Incog. Bryce Edwards is a devious and misleading commentator who seems to be a slave to the right. The figures he quotes in his article give an entirely false impression.
As the figures in your link show, the Labour-led government will increase public housing by 14,000 in the period 2018-2024, an increase of 20%. Creditable, though more still would be preferable.
Over the 9 years of the Key junta the number of state houses actually decreased. Key and English sold them off to bolster the public accounts so that they could give tax cuts to their mates.
"Labour-led government will increase public housing". That is probably OK as far as it goes. After all one more house would make that claim true. But why do you think it will be on anything like the scale in the proposal you have linked to?
What a trusting person you are. They say that, this time, they are going to achieve something significant. You actually seem to believe, in spite of all the evidence from past promises, that they will do what they have promised.
Well, back in 2017 they promised that they would build 100,000 houses in 10 years. Then they gave some estimates for the first 3 years. And how did they get on? All true believers now look in the other direction. It was a total disaster wasn't it?
They promised that by the end of 2021 there would be light rail to Mt Roskill. No ifs, no buts. It would be there. Well they haven't even got a route so far, so what are the chances that it will be achieved?
But we are now asked to believe that things will be different this time. This time the numbers they promise are really truly going to happen. And everyone can believe in the tooth fairy as well I suppose.
It all comes down to money, or the 16 billions they gave the rich so that a few breadcrumbs can fall off the table. There is no money for infrastructure, housing or any other improvement we wish to see. If there isn't a Corporate in line of bolstering their pockets, we are simply out of luck. Look at the timber shortage and the commercial manoeuvring in NZ. Anyone can see we are being blackmailed to give up on public housing. Meanwhile, the government needs to fill the hole of 16 bill. with log exports. Aren't they?
https://www.hud.govt.nz/urban-development/the-housing-acceleration-fund/
You mean the same Labour that promised 100,000 houses in ten years about 3 1/2 years ago and failed embarrassingly to the point of giving in and saying it was bollocks?
Why are we supposed t trust their housing promises again?
How many houses has the National party built or promised to build – anyone?
Probably a few.
I don't know.
Do you mind pointing out the relevance other than whataboutism?
Are they the current government making promises?
I know it is annoying, but at some stage it needs to sink in to you Key hasn't been around for 4 years or so.
Or a we going to go with "It is ok Labour are shit at (insert issue), because the other lot were nearly as shit” for another 3 years?
National decreased the overall state housing stock in its period in power.
Labour is increasing it. Has done so. Will it get to 14,000? Maybe. Would have to pull finger, but it's already moving in the correct direction.
You know what's worse than trying to get X number of extra homes built and failing? Not even trying.
So National didn't promise or try to improve things (well, except towards the end, when they started promising to halve child poverty in a sudden pretence of caring). Labour has tried to achieve its goals, failed on some and succeeded on others.
One of the things about "whataboutism" is that it does introduce the concept of hypocrisy, in that a party which criticises another party for doing 'nothing' or 'not enough' when it actually made things worse by selling off housing which it did not replace as it promised, is accountable. The 'what about you' points out this hypocrisy.
Easter holiday quiz
How many State houses has Labour sold off since 2017
Not as many as the number of Easter eggs I have eaten today.
How many were sold in areas where they were no longer needed due to population shift? The question really should be, "How many sold……… and for what reason?"
In the town where I live, our National MP assured us in Grey Power that houses would be built to replace those sold. They weren't. Houses that I looked at as being up for sale but in need of refurbishment under National were not sold under Labour,
and are being done up. As well, a hundred more are being built in the region. The spokesperson for Grey Power locally (not me!) reported to our recent AGM that he was very pleased with local and national (small 'n', =note) government efforts in addressing housing needs locally.
“How many were sold in areas where they were no longer needed due to population shift?”
Exactly what National said
Let's see…
current housing stock (dec 2020) 67,364 (63,788 state rentals).
dec 2017: 63,209 (61,323 rentals).
So several thousand fewer than they bought or built.
dec 2015: 67,182 (65,681 rentals).
Seems to be the usual for the last 40 years. Nats sell off state housing, then complain that Labour haven't repaired their damage quickly enough.
Certainly not a city's (1140) worth as the National govt did in Tauranga – who decided that was a remotely good idea to lose the income from freehold properties & the valuable land they stand on in a city with a shortage of it. The "idea" failed were English put both the entire stock of Tauranga & Invercargill up as Invercargill in 2014-2016, into 2017 when the sale was completed, was experiencing none of the demand for property Tauranga did and still does. Now the tax payer supplements the "market" rents – so lost income, lost land and supplemented rents on 1140 properties hardly stacks up as a brilliant idea by any assessment. The owners Accessible Properties had approx 1600 properties in 2017 now they have 2700 approx so any claim it would lead to social housing providers providing extra social housing on the back of it is bunkum – they are profit for purpose supported by tax payers money.
I’m surprised that you don’t know, given the on-going importance of this issue.
Better to have tried and failed (Labour), than to have never tried at all (National), imho.
"Nearly as shit"! Mate, yer dreaming.
https://www.hud.govt.nz/assets/News-and-Resources/Statistics-and-Research/Housing-Dashboard-2020/Housing-Dashboard-February-2021.pdf
Andrew Bolt asks of Kiwis:
Perhaps he should ask Peter Dutton.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/04/australian-tv-host-andrew-bolt-launches-extraordinary-tirade-against-backstabbing-new-zealand-for-sucking-up-to-china.html
Sound reason in this article by Janine Starks. Make a mockery (and she does mock them) of landlord's claims they are going to hammer tenants for this.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/300266869/heres-why-tenants-shouldnt-worry-about-housing-changes
Grasping at straws, the simple theory of supply and demand will prevail, you just watch.
The simple theory of supply and demand has not led to desirable outcomes for all, which is I assume what everyone wants. Constraints on the supply side render the theory inadequate, therefore some intervention is required.
I am fairly certain that homes aren't being destroyed and house numbers are rising quite rapidly, if not rapidly enough.
I imagine rents will rise at about the same pace as they have historically, that is well above wage growth. As it ever was 🙁
No they won't cut and run.
They will just ramp up every ones rent.
This is probably the 'uninvestable' reasoning that she refers to
https://www.wealthmorning.com/2021/03/29/637883/help-they-just-made-housing-uninvestable/
Simon Angelo is quite impressed with what the government has done and not that keen on small scale residential rental / investment as a business.
Angelo does have a barrow to push, he sells investment products other than housing. He's quite keen on the idea of a listed company that builds and rents medium to high density housing, either as a partial float of Housing New Zealand, or a new entity.
https://www.wealthmorning.com/2021/03/15/637215/how-investors-could-solve-the-housing-crisis/
There's already a couple of outfits doing the build to rent thing Du Val, and Williams Corp who've previously been pre-sold builders but have been popping up on my Facebook feed with build to rent product returning 10%
Do you mind posting some actual numbersm with links, as no offence, but the link is a bit shit proving whatever point you are trying to make,
There were plenty of numbers in that link.
Perhaps you have trouble recognising what a number is, because you very, very rarely back up anything you write with numbers, via links or otherwise.
I thought the article was very well thought out by a person well established in the personal finance and investment industry. It was also a relief to hear someone in that industry not hand-wring about the recent legislative changes and show that this will in fact stabilise the rental market by weeding out amateur and leveraged party-time investors.
Is there room here for shameless self-promotion?
One hour (a whole hour?!?) mooching about in my forest-garden, ruminating aloud, in the presence of nimble cameraman James Jubb 🙂
I haven't watched all of it yet Robert, but I plan to.
Yes, for something like this I think you are quite entitled to be proud of it and to make available to others. Mind you, I think the rampant growth of your beard almost puts the growth of the vegetation to shame.
Thanks, Alwyn – I hope you enjoy the watch. As to my beard; it's synchronised it's progress with that of the forest, I'm sure 🙂
Thanks Robert, just finished watching it all the way through. Very inspiring for what i am doing here though mine will be a fraction of the size. I have very sheltered but sunny half an acre in Whangarei.
Last winter i planted a good 150 native plants and lots of comfrey. This winter i will put in plum and apricot trees now i have mostly finished my terracing. I've got four pineapple plants in pots to go in and will do more once once the pineapples are available again at the growers market. I'm also looking to put in mandarins, grapes, bananas and thornless blackberries.
Here is a link re the pineapple people:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018788272/tropical-fruit-coffee-potential-crops-for-winterless-north
Thanks for sticking with it, solkta and thanks for the interesting link.
Interesting musings on the housing package by Brian Easton
https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/taxing-questions-about-taxing-housing
https://youtu.be/LanCLS_hIo4